I have always had a special place in my heart for lilacs. When I was young, we had a huge hedge of lilacs rimming the edge of our yard and they would always be in bloom for my May birthday. I would cut gigantic bouquets of lilacs and put them in our largest vases, flanking either side of my bed, so I could inhale their sweet fragrance as I drifted off to sleep.
For over 30 years, I lived in places with no lilacs – Hawaii, and the mountains of Colorado. So I was excited to have lilacs again when we moved to Indiana in 2006. In a couple of months I will be moving back to a place with no lilacs – the arid southeast corner of Colorado. And so I told myself I need to really savor this last lilac season in Indiana.
I have two lilac bushes that are now blooming – but I find I haven’t once gone outside to admire them, to breathe in their intoxicating scent, to cut even a few sprigs to enjoy in my home. I have to ask myself: “What’s going on here?” Do I just miss the idea of lilacs? Why have I not taken the time to experience lilacs?
Socially-Embedded learning 
If you explore the question that ends this wonderful post, Ruth, please consider contributing that to the Herbaria 3.0 Project: https://herbaria3.org/about-herbaria-3-0-2/ There’s a link there for people to share their stories about the meaning and significance of plants.
Ruth, if you do explore the wonderful questions you posted at the end of this post, consider submitting your essay to the Herbaria 3.0 Project: https://herbaria3.org/about-herbaria-3-0-2/ There is a link at that site where you can share your story related to meaning and significance of plants in our lives.
Thank you for that suggestion Jon. I will check out herbaria.